Volume 1 Chapter 18: Are You Familiar with the Exquisite Pagoda?

"Do you know of the Linglong Tower?"

Mo Chenlan crossed his arms, his eyes—which seemed capable of seeing through anyone—fixed on the young girl before him, probing for any reaction.

"What Linglong Tower? Never heard of it." Zhao Yan nibbled on a snack from the table, her face a mask of ignorance.

"The object required to open the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Array is called the Linglong Tower. Ji Heng’s goal is that tower."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan froze, her mind instantly sharpening. Ji Heng had been plotting this for a hundred years—a century ago, was that not when she had fallen? A deathly pallor washed over her face. So, his target was indeed the Linglong Tower, and he had known she possessed it since a hundred years ago. The realization was chilling; a cold sweat broke out across her back.

Everything suddenly made sense. Ji Heng had been after the Linglong Tower from the start. The blood transfusion was merely to save his sister, and he had turned her into a puppet because the Linglong Tower was bound to her by a soul contract. Only by becoming a mindless puppet would she be docile enough to sacrifice the tower.

The original Yun Zhaoyan had not possessed the Linglong Tower in her soul. It was only after she arrived that...

Zhao Yan stood up abruptly. The Grand Preceptor knew she was not the original Yun Zhaoyan. He had known since her birth—perhaps even earlier—that she would possess the body of Yun Zhaoyan!

As this thought took hold, her hair stood on end, and cold sweat drenched her back. Few in the Holy Spirit Continent even knew of the Linglong Tower, and the Four Stars realm was isolated from the Holy Spirit realm. Who could have told him about the tower? Who was plotting against her?

Bai Mengli and Shen Che? No, they lacked the ability to bypass the Heavenly Dao and scheme against her in the Four Stars realm. If the person behind this had known about the future even before she was reborn, could it be someone from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion? Yet, she had never provoked them. It seemed the only way to uncover the mastermind was to find Ji Heng.

"Second Miss Yun?"

Seeing her expression shift, Mo Chenlan tapped the table, snapping Zhao Yan back to reality.

"Ah? What?"

"Do you truly not know of the Linglong Tower?"

Zhao Yan shook her head. "How would I know about things from your Snowy Region City?" She paused, then asked, "By the way, what is the situation between you and the Grand Preceptor? It seems he hates you deeply."

From their conversation earlier, she knew they were cousins. She was merely curious about what kind of grudge could turn them into such bitter enemies.

Mo Chenlan’s lips curled slightly. "I killed his parents. How could he not hate me?"

Zhao Yan spat out the tea she had been sipping, silently scooting a bit further away from him.

"His parents conspired to murder my own for the sake of the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Array. It is only fair that I killed his parents in return."

Zhao Yan blinked. It was a classic case of "you killed my parents, so I killed yours." By the sound of it, even their grandfather had been dragged into this; the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Array had torn their entire family apart. She was curious, though: what exactly was inside this array? And why did it require the Linglong Tower to open?

Her gaze fell on Mo Chenlan. Was he, like Ji Heng, also seeking to open the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Array?

"If the Linglong Tower is not with you, then it must be with Yun Zhaojun. Ji Heng’s plans were disrupted by us, and he will not be satisfied. I am going to guard the Yun residence; perhaps I can catch him there."

"Wait!"

Mo Chenlan stopped, his back to her. A faint smile touched his lips as his dark eyes flashed with an inscrutable light under the moonlight.

"If the Linglong Tower really is with Yun Zhaojun, what will you do?"

Silence filled the room, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind outside. Zhao Yan watched his silhouette in the darkness, her mind racing. If this man was also seeking the tower for the array, Yun Zhaojun would surely meet a grim fate. While she was no saint, she could not let someone else take the fall for her.

"Naturally, I will protect her."

Hearing this, Zhao Yan let out a breath of relief; her life was temporarily secure.

"Since we share the same enemy, why not take me with you?"

Mo Chenlan did not turn around, but after a soft grunt of acknowledgment, he grabbed her and vanished from the Feng residence.

When they arrived at the Yun estate, it was ablaze with lights, the quiet night shattered by commotion. They exchanged a look, both sensing something was wrong.

"Hurry, hurry!"

"We must find the Eldest Miss!"

Guards and servants scrambled everywhere.

"Father, the villain who took Sister must still be in Baiyue City! If we ask the city for help, we might find her faster," Yun Chu said anxiously.

Yun Wuchen immediately rejected the idea. "If word gets out that the Eldest Miss of the Yun family was abducted in the middle of the night, what will become of her reputation?"

Yun Chu’s face darkened. "Then what do we do? We don't even know who took her!"

Yun Wuchen remained silent, the image of the Grand Preceptor’s face flashing through his mind. Who else could it be?

"Keep the guards from stirring up too much trouble in the house. I am going to the City Lord’s mansion to have him activate the city’s protective barrier."

"Understood."

Zhao Yan frowned. "It seems we are a step too late."

They searched Yun Zhaojun’s room but found no clues, so they left. After escorting her back to the Feng residence, Mo Chenlan departed, gifting her a jade pendant—a spiritual tool that allowed for communication through spiritual energy.

Zhao Yan pondered the pendant. Ji Heng knew she had the Linglong Tower, and taking Yun Zhaojun was clearly a ploy to use her. Since the two were linked, Yun Zhaojun was likely safe. With her current strength, she could not defeat Ji Heng, but as he was clearly targeting her, he would eventually come to her. She only needed to wait.

Mo Chenlan must have realized this, which was why he provided the jade pendant. As the saying went, the enemy of one's enemy is a friend. For now, she had to cling to Mo Chenlan for support. As for the Linglong Tower, she would keep it hidden for as long as possible. Mo Chenlan’s mind was too sharp; even she could not fathom him. It was best to remain cautious.

***

Snowy Region City.

In a majestic mansion, a man leaned lazily against a soft couch, his chin resting on his hand. His dark, bottomless eyes were fixed on the man kneeling in the center of the hall. A suffocating pressure filled the room; the others present lowered their heads, not daring to breathe.

The man kneeling trembled uncontrollably, his body rigid. Beads of sweat the size of mung beans rolled down his face. The only sound in the silent hall was the rhythmic ticking of a clock, each sound striking at the man’s heart, slowly dismantling his defenses.

Finally, he could bear it no longer.

"This subordinate has failed. I beg the Master to end my life!"

Mo Chenlan watched coldly for a long moment.

"Xuan Er, do you remember how many years you have served me?"

Xuan Er lowered his eyes. "One hundred and eight years."

"One hundred and eight years... yet it could not buy your loyalty." Mo Chenlan’s smile remained, but the murderous intent on his face grew more visible.

"Xuan Yi, kill him."